Monday, November 2, 2015

I'd wager many of us were introduced to happily-ever-afters through historical romance. My introduction came courtesy of Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart, whose enthralling novels I discovered when I sneaked into the adult section of my small-town public library at the tender age of thirteen. I never looked back!

Historicals have had a rather rocky relationship with critics over the years. Remember the "death of historical romance" a few years ago when contemporaries and paranormals were on the rise? Of course, those of us who love the sub-genre knew then what we've always known. If you write it, we will buy! I'm happy that so many talented authors are doing exactly that. In fact, I'm happy for every well-written book that's published, regardless of the sub-genre. There's a diverse audience of readers in the book-buying universe who appreciate books that speak to their particular area of interest. I read and enjoy many different sub-genres!

My pup with one of her favorites by Anne Gracie!

But back to historicals. I've discovered some wonderful groups and initiatives celebrating historical romance lately. Did you participate in yesterday's #fallbackintime historical romance celebration? Here in the United States we turned our clocks back one hour yesterday. Tying into that, the Historical Romance Network (a Facebook community) asked readers and authors to post photos of themselves on social media with a favorite historical romance novel, using the hashtag #fallbackintime. It's a fun way to promote the books we love and discover new books to add to our "must read" lists. I don't know about you but my list is huge!

If you've been around a while (like I have), you may have cut your romance reading teeth on the old-school romances of the 70's and 80's. Or maybe you didn't but would like to explore more of the books from that era. In that case, come along with me to Sarah MacLean's Old School Romance Book Club, a Facebook group of more than 2,000 lovers of historical romance who are warm, friendly and welcoming to new members.

Have you heard about the Historical Romance Retreat being held in Spokane, Washington next September? As stated at the HRR website:

"In a magical historical hotel setting, this weekend retreat is a book lover's dream come true. Join some of the world's most celebrated authors of historical romance coming together for an intimate gathering that gives every guest a chance to mingle and play. Dress in your favorite era, enjoy historical foods, games and music while surrounded by the glamour of a hotel that was once only enjoyed by the elite."

Check out the video invitation made by a fellow historical romance lover who will be attending the retreat. Thank you, TSpreck and Designs by BMB.

Some of the authors on board for the retreat are Victoria Alexander, Katharine Ashe, Mary Balogh, Anna Campbell, Tessa Dare, Lorraine Heath, Elizabeth Hoyt, Rose Lerner, Sabrina Jeffries, Julie Anne Long, Cathy Maxwell, Linda Lael Miller, Miranda Neville and more. For more information about the retreat and a full list of authors, visit the Historical Romance Retreat website. If this inaugural retreat is successful, the organizers have plans to take the show on the road, holding a retreat every two years in different parts of the U.S. Also, if you're not into costumes, never fear. There will be many attendees not dressing up.

What book or author was your introduction to romance?Are you a lover of historical romance?Who are your go-to historical romance authors?What upcoming historical romances are you most looking forward to reading?

Three randomly chosen people who leave comments before 11:59 pm (PST) tonight will each receive a package of signed historical romances. (U.S. only) (list of books below)Three randomly chosen people who leave comments before 11:59 pm (PST) tonight will each receive a Kindle copy of Her Pirate from the Past:A Time Travel Romance Novella by Caro Carson. (I discovered this story last week and fell in love!) (open to everyone)Readers, be sure to check out the other 6th Anniversary posts and Giveaways while you're here!

Package One:
Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas
The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor by Paula Quinn
Never Seduce a Scoundrel by Sabrina Jeffries
Passionately Yours by Cara Elliott

Package Two:
The MacLean Groom by Kathleen Harrington
The Prince Who Loved Me by Karen Hawkins
When the Marquess Met His Match by Laura Lee Guhrke
Rogue Spy by Joanna Bourne

Package Three:
Desperate Hearts by Rosanne Bittner
The Accidental Duchess by Madeline Hunter
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean
Too Dangerous for a Lady by Jo Beverley

41 comments:

I adore historical romance since they are captivating, unique and unforgettable. I was introduced to Historical Romance many years ago and Susan Howatch's novels were intriguing as well as extraordinary in length and breadth. Historical Romance authors whom I enjoy are Mary Balogh and the first one was Mary Stewart. I am looking forward to Named The Dragon very much.

Historical Romance gives me enjoyment, entertainment, travel, and much much more. It envelops me entirely when I am reading the novel. The first authors which I remember vividly are Grace Burrowes, Daphne Du Maurier and Jennifer Donnelly and Josephine Tey and Georgette Heyer. I enjoy many historical authors and I can hardly wait to read the books by Jo Beverley.

I love reading Historical Romance because it is filled with history of the era the book is written in. Readers get a glimpse of what it was like during those times without leaving their home. I love how the characters are so well written and I can picture their surroundings by the words as they flow across the pages with images that make the story come to life. Since I read over 500 books a year, it is hard to just pick one author because each one writes with a different style thst grabs mt attention.

Until recently, I read mostly Historical Romance. My go to authors are Julia Quinn, Mary Balogh, Grace Burrowes, Theresa Romain, and Stephanie Laurens. The first romance I read was a romantic medieval short story in a Good Housekeeping magazine when I was really too young to be reading romances. I am really looking forward to reading Theresa Romain's The Sport of Baronets which will hit my Kindle tomorrow morning.

I read both historicals and contemporaries, but historicals are probably my favorite. The fun thing about historicals is that you get to do a little bit of time travel and learn a thing or two about historical cultures and events.

Some of my favorite authors over the years have been Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Julie Ann Long, Mary Balogh, Linda Lael Miller, Lisa Kleypas, Julie Garwood, Margaret Mallory, and I could go on and on. I think the very first historical romance author that I read was Janet Dailey.

Woodwiss, Lindsay and Blake were/are my go to authors as they never disappoint in adventure and content. Also devoutly read Rebecca Brandewyne and Shirley Busbee. Beatrice Small's the Skye O'Malley series may have been my favorite for adventure and romance. There are just so many to choose from. I don't read as much so not familiar with contemporary romance. I travel a lot and paperbacks are bulky and get lost. However one day I will return more faithfully to my love of reading romance novels. Keep blogging good reads.

I remember when I started shelving books in high school and discovered Gothic and historical romances among others. I devoured my way through lots of books by Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart and Daphne du Maurier.bluedawn95864 at gmail.com

Mary Stewart was my teenage intro to romance. Elizabeth Hoyt and Sarah MacLean are two authors who never disappoint me. Package # 3 looks like my type of preferred reading! The upcoming retreat sounds like a lot of fun.

I love historical romances best of all. While I've been an avid reader most of my life, I think it was in the early '70's when I started reading historical romance paperbacks. Some of those early authors that I loved were Patricia Matthews, Valerie Sherwood, Rosemary Rodgers, Johanna Lindsey and Kathleen E Woodiwiss. Some of my auto-buy authors now include Sabrina Jeffries, Stephanie Laurens, Elizabeth Boyle, Candice Hern, Shana Galen, Suzanne Enoch, plus many more.

C. S. Harris has 3 more Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries coming out in 2016. Shana Galen has another installment of her Coventry Cubs series in March '16 as does Sabrina Jeffries with her Sinful Suitors series. Stephanie Laurens is bring out an new series called The Adventurer's Quartet...4 books that deal with sea-going heroes. Sounds pretty good. And finally Shirley Tallman has a 6th Sarah Woolson Mystery publishing sometime in 2016.

Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart were authors I loved many years ago and a few years later I discovered Judith McNaught. I guess she was my real introduction to historical romance and I've loved them ever since. Julia Quinn, Mary Balogh, and Lisa Kleypas are a few of my more recent favorites.

I have been reading historical romances since I was a teenager. I can't remember who was my first, but some of the ones I love were what I thought of the Queens of Historical Romance, Bertrice Small, Kathleen E Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers. I read every book of theirs as soon as they hit the bookstores. There was also Johanna Lindsey as well and she is still one of my favs today. So many others Karen Hawkins, Monica McCarty, Stephanie Laurens, Nicole Jordan, Mary Balogh. I could go on and on.

I have been reading historical romances since I was a teenager. I can't remember who was my first, but some of the ones I love were what I thought of the Queens of Historical Romance, Bertrice Small, Kathleen E Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers. I read every book of theirs as soon as they hit the bookstores. There was also Johanna Lindsey as well and she is still one of my favs today. So many others Karen Hawkins, Monica McCarty, Stephanie Laurens, Nicole Jordan, Mary Balogh. I could go on and on.

I started reading Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters and Georgette Heyer when I was nine years old so I have pretty much been a lifelong historical romance fan. My first non-classic historical romance was The Wolf and the Dove and I first read it when I was a freshman in college. I was hooked! I read all sorts of romance, but historical romance is my first love to read and to write.

I was introduced later in life with Devareaux and Julia Quinn , Lisa Kleypas and Eloisa James. And never looked back. I will say my very very first book was Valley of the Dolls, I know, I know. Happy Anniversary!

Like many others, Kathleen Woodiwiss got me hooked on romance and historicals have always been my favorite! Some favorites are Grace Burrowes, Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Kathryne Kennedy, Karen Ranney, Theresa Romain and oh so many more and I'm always looking forward to their new stories!

I'm definitely going to HRR! I was in highschool when I grabbed my first romance book. I don't know if you can all Barbara Delinsky a romance writer but she was the one that brought me into this world. But I have to say it was Stephanie Laurens's Cynster series that got me hooked and head over heels for Historical romances! It opened up a whole knew door for me and got me to discover my love of history and everything historical English, Scottish, French, all of it. It also lead me to discover Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, Madeline Hunter, Julie Anne Long, Eloisa James, Shana Galen, Sabrina Jeffries, Anna Campbell, Connie Brockway, and many more!

I absolutely LOVE historical romance! I honestly don't remember the first one I read but I do remember borrowing a friend's copies of The Far Pavilions and The Thorn Birds in high school. There are SO many amazing authors who's books automatically go on my wish list however, the one who I am unable to wait to get is Grace Burrowes. Her books are always on my auto preorder and buy list. (Honestly, I tend to preorder quite a lot, but I do have all of Grace's books - I'm still collecting other authors....)

I was a late bloomer with reading. My first was Alexandra Hawkins all Night with a Rogue. It was my first adult romance and since then I have spent thousands on books! My hubby claims that both him and his wallet hate that women :) (He is only teasing... I think?!?!)

It was Johanna Lindsey who first drew me into historical romances. I thoroughly enjoy historical romances. Some of my go to authors include Lorraine Heath, Annie Gracie, Sherry Thomas, Julie Anne Long, Sarah Maclean, but there are many others. I have not been keeping up with what will be released so much just lately, am submerged at work. But I read about titles and new to me authors in review blogs like The Romance Dish and depend on this to help me find the books I want to read.

It was Johanna Lindsey who first drew me into historical romances. I thoroughly enjoy historical romances. Some of my go to authors include Lorraine Heath, Annie Gracie, Sherry Thomas, Julie Anne Long, Sarah Maclean, but there are many others. I have not been keeping up with what will be released so much just lately, am submerged at work. But I read about titles and new to me authors in review blogs like The Romance Dish and depend on this to help me find the books I want to read.

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